A Royal Navy sailor has told a jury that his complaint of a “revolting” sexual assault against a senior officer was kept quiet to avoid a scandal.

The man said he was groped by Lieutenant Commander Charles Howeson on board Devonport frigate HMS Cleopatra more than 30 years ago.

He told a court he immediately told senior officers and was later told Howeson would be forced to leave the service – but nothing happened.

The witness told the jury: “I believe the Navy wanted to keep this quiet because it was going to be a scandal. A First Lieutenant and a young sailor would have been a nice juicy story in the papers.”READ MORE

14:12

Delays on A38 westbound through Plymouth

From Inrix...

A38 - PLYMOUTH - WESTBOUND - DEVON

Very slow traffic on A38 Westbound before Tamar Bridge heading into Cornwall. Travel time is eight minutes.

From Traffic England...

Location The A38 westbound between the junctions with the A3064 and the A388

Reason Congestion

Status Currently Active

Return To Normal Normal traffic conditions are expected between 14:15 and 14:30 on 15 November 2017

Delay There are currently delays of 10 minutes against expected traffic

More of your South West Water bill goes to shareholders than gets spent on pipes, reservoirs and treatment works

More of the money you paid in South West Water bills ended up in the pockets of shareholders and banks than got spent maintaining and building pipes, reservoirs and treatment works, an independent watchdog has claimed.

Corporate Watch said that last year’s accounts showed the water firm invested £183m on pipes, reservoirs and treatment works - but paid £213m to its owner, the Pennon Group, reports the BBC.

In response, South West Water said it was committed to being as transparent and clear as possible.

Traffic queueing on A38 sliproads in Plymouth

Hero North Hill doorman comes to aid of vulnerable woman on Tamar Bridge

Police have praised a Plymouth doorman for helping a vulnerable woman on the Tamar Bridge this evening. Hero Daniel Knill was on his way home from a friend’s house in Saltash when he spotted a woman at the side of the road. The 42-year-old motorcyclist, who works on North Hill, told The Herald: “I rode up to her and calmly got off my bike and introduced myself.

“Gradually she calmed down and I said ‘C’mon let’s get out of here’ and I held her hand and walked her over to the officers on the other side of the bridge.”READ MORE

07:41Max Channon

Plymouth businessman Charles Howeson 'groped away' at Junior Rating when he was in the Royal Navy, court told

A Royal Navy rating has told a jury of his shock when he was allegedly groped by a senior officer on board a frigate during a man overboard drill in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Former Lieutenant Commander Charles Howeson, aged 67, has gone on trial accused of indecently touching 11 young men and boys over nine years.

That's a lot of cars

Good morning and welcome to today's Live News Blog

It’s a dry and mild morning, with temperatures already into double figures - but the weather is likely to be a bit unpredictable today, with the Met Office predicting both patchy drizzle and sunny spells.

Out on the city’s roads, traffic is already heavy on Tavistock Road and Outland road.